Egg laying adventure

[Melky]

Ok my pullets are at 16-17 weeks and know it is still a possibility they will lay this season cause early yet but let’s face it we are down to twelve hours of daylight and not enough to lay eggs. The pineal gland needs 14 hours. I have a solar lantern outside the coop window thinking this would be enough light and may have to face that it is not and wait till spring for eggs. I don’t really need a question answered just voice my disappointment. Two of my breeds lay more at 18-20 weeks anyway. They are on a higher protein feed with mealworms as a treat. Have poultry grit and oyster shell. I look each day when I put the food out at day break but can’t help to feel I get my hopes up and then let down. I am waring with myself about added lighting for just a couple hours to get eggs this season and I promised myself my birds deserve a natural upbringing. I don’t want to stress my birds. No they haven’t laid anywhere else. I know there is still hope they could but ironically nature is not on my side as daylight hours dwindle. I just want to say it is hard that once I have set a standard to live up to. Breaking it seems so tempting sometimes but no I am sticking to my resolve for natural environment and I will be proud later that I didn’t cave in. It’s like when you first sent your kids to school and hoped they are the best at everything they do because you want the best for them. Oh if I had only bought them earlier in the spring! Oh well. I just needed to share. Have a nice day and Happy laying!

 

[BGcoop]

 

[Deannak63]

Mine just turned 17-weeks and I too am in a waiting zone. However, because we are installing a bathroom vent with light this weekend (gift from the MIL), I’ll be running it 3-hrs a day for extra air exchange and light. We’ll see if it makes a difference. Nobody is squatting or singing any louder.

 

[Perris]

I feel your pain @Melky ; in a similar boat myself despite my newbies being almost 29 weeks old! One started laying soft shelled eggs about 2 weeks ago, and the other dropped her first this morning. I think I've had one proper egg from the pair of them so far, and am beginning to reconcile myself to few/no eggs till spring, as all but one other in my small flock of rare/heritage breeds are in molt. I guess there's a reason or three why rare breeds are rare

 

[Melky]

I’m totally sympathetic to all of you. Mine are in a juvenile molt. Not dropped a single egg. I’ll just wait till spring when daylight returns.

 

[Melky]

Mine just turned 17-weeks and I too am in a waiting zone. However, because we are installing a bathroom vent with light this weekend (gift from the MIL), I’ll be running it 3-hrs a day for extra air exchange and light. We’ll see if it makes a difference. Nobody is squatting or singing any louder.

The bathroom vent with light creative.

 

[Naser]

They should lay this winter

 

[Deannak63]

The bathroom vent with light creative.

We’re at another delay with the electric—there’s always delays with construction. Next weekend will be the “turn on the lights weekend”

 

[aart]

Mine just turned 17-weeks and I too am in a waiting zone. However, because we are installing a bathroom vent with light this weekend (gift from the MIL), I’ll be running it 3-hrs a day for extra air exchange and light. We’ll see if it makes a difference. Nobody is squatting or singing any louder.

Is the light on a timer for winter laying?
Not sure the fan is a good idea in winter.....
...I see from your intro(great BTW)that you are in MN.
You can add your general geographical location to your profile.
It's easy to do, then it's always there!

 

[Deannak63]

The fan is a bathroom ventilation fan, not with exposed blades. Since I work from home and am up at 5:30 every morning, I am the light timer.